"Settle Down" - Kimbra

Ever since "Somebody That I Used To Know", I've become more and more interested in Kimbra. I'm drooling for her full-length album to be released in the States (if anyone knows where I can purchase it here, please let me know - it's not on iTunes nor is it on Amazon [booo]), and in the meantime I get to enjoy her 4-track Settle Down EP on repeat. 

The title track sets itself apart with an a cappella intro and a some percussive vocals that maintain throughout the song. It's a cheeky, honest song about wanting to settle down (hence the title, you guys). It almost sounds as if it's sung by a child who thinks she knows what love is, incorporating a bit of "Star Light, Star Bright", though it gets a bit more desperate towards the end and she almost begs her man to stay with her, singing "baby there's no need to run".


To evoke this look I put together a classic, "Mad Men" meets Stepford Wife look. Very demure, nothing too overt or risky, very proper. Almost unsettlingly so. 


Listen to the song here.

"King of the World" - First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit has quickly become one of my favorite bands. I'm so amazed by them - they're a Swedish sister duo but their music is so old country you'd think they were direct descendants of the Coal Miner's Daughter herself. This song is the closing number on their debut album The Lion's Roar, and though it was difficult to choose which one to feature, I found myself drawn to this one. I love it's declarations of being nobody's baby, everybody's girl, queen of nothing, king of the world. 


It's all about feeling insecure yet confident at the same time and trying to understand where you fit in. Although the message is somewhat unsure, I still feel that evokes this sense of strength. Like the storyteller is saying, sure, I don't have it figured out yet, but I know that I will and in the meantime I'll do my best. That's why I wanted to pair this with such a strong look.


Those Roberto Cavalli pants are killer, right? Totally undeniable. I wanted to build the ensemble around them, with more metallic accents to allude to the royalty that's wearing it. I also included the soft Clover Canyon top to represent the unknowing - it's a lovely print of the horizon and reminds us that we are a small piece of a huge puzzle. It keeps the look a bit more grounded.


Listen to the song here.

"Manchester" - Kishi Bashi

 

 

Not sure if you've heard, but it's going to be 75 degrees this week in Minneapolis. HOHHH MY GEE. Finally. This summer is going to be fantastic - I've got an anniversary vacation coming up, loads of local concerts to go to, Tough Mudder, and Bonnaroo. And that's all before June! Summer is the best. You know what else is the best? This song. I think I found my song of the summer - and it's only March!

 

This is yet another "instant love" songs. I think I'm starting to understand the formula I need for me to feel an attachment to a song. It usually involves at least one of the following: hopeless and/or beautiful declarations of love; an infectious melody that builds on itself with grand instrumentation; the ability to spark the desire for me to stand up and twirl around until the song is over. Kishi Bashi has included all of these qualities in "Manchester".

 

The song begins with a dreamy string and percussion sound and builds into the chorus, when Kishi Bashi sings "Oh, hello/will you be mine?/I haven't felt this alive in a long time". And what makes one feel more alive than sporting some high waisted geometric printed shorts and a cutout blouse? P.S. - "Oh, hello" is one of my favorite ways to begin any story, conversation, anything.

 

Please listen to the song here (along with other tracks from his Room For Dream EP).

"Skinny Love" - Birdy

Oh my, it's been awhile, hasn't it? Let me explain: I've been traveling for work, the end (good explanation). 
To be honest, I've also been suffering from a bit of writer's block. I've been collecting all these gorgeous and unique pieces to put some new looks together and struggling a bit to find the music to match. So really I've been spending most of my time combing through Spotify to find some more songs to inspire me. 

I love Bon Iver. He's become a bit more of a big deal of late, what with the two Grammys and all, and I am happy to have listened to his music prior to his nominations & wins. I can't claim to be a true fan from the beginning, however - my boyfriend likes to remind me that he saw Bon Iver in 2007 at Pitchfork before For Emma, Forever Ago even came out (yes, I am dating a hipster, but a mild one, I assure you) - and I must confess that when someone first recommended him to me I thought they were saying "Boney Bear", but I like to believe that my fandom has made up for lost time. I had the opportunity to see him live at the Orpheum this past fall, and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. 

I want to do his latest album justice, but it's taking me some time to decipher the lyrics. So for this post I'm cheating a bit and posting a cover of a Bon Iver song (my unwritten rule is to not duplicate artists as I post; this way I can still post from his sophomore album. Hooray for tricking the system that I created and has no real consequence if I break!). I discovered this song on Spotify (yikes, product placement much?) and it really is a gorgeous cover. I hadn't known anything about Birdy until tonight - my, my, this young lady is talented. She's 16 (!!) and released this cover when she was 15. She simplifies Justin Vernon's song even further, complementing her truly lovely voice with piano. 

The song itself is just heartbreaking, much like the album from whence it came. It's about a relationship that is failing/has failed, and the longing for it to last. This ensemble attempts to evoke that longing, with delicate details that allude to the wearer's fragile emotions, as well as some more rugged notes to represent the wearers jaded views coming out of the experience. 


Listen to the song here.

"We Are Young" - Fun.

I love writing these posts because it allows me to better understand why I love certain songs and connect with them. I've realized that themes that really resonate with me have been ones that evoke a sense of nostalgia, or love, or a sense of mortality. This is not one of those songs. But I still adore it.

This song has really been heating up the charts, as they say (gross), and it's easy to understand why. The melody is catchy as it builds, the percussion is moving and the overall sound gives the listener a sense of motivation to get out there and live. The message is simple: seize the moment. Enjoy life. The world is ours. Party it up. And, if we're being honest, get out there and find someone to carry you home tonight.

In honor of that sentiment, I've assembled one of those "out on the town" looks. You know the one - a little over the top, consisting of at least one piece that you're not quite sure you can pull off (but your friends insist you're rocking it, only you could make it work, and after a couple drinks you know that they are SO RIGHT)? This look is reserved for a night that will include more than one bar and dancing, lots of dancing.  So we have a Roland Mouret strappy top, some deliciously unavoidable J Brand waxed skinnies, Gucci zebra stilettos (you can totally dance in heels), and, of course, classic Wayfarers. If this look doesn't emulate a carefree night out, I don't know what does.

Listen to the song here.

"Who'd Have Known" - Lily Allen

Oh hey, did you guys know that it's almost Valentine's Day? Sort of hard to miss, what with all the commercials and love song/anti-Valentine's Day breakup song playlists. Being a bit of a romantic, I'm getting into the Valentine's spirit this year, paying extra close attention to all the love songs I listen to and buying handy hearts by the pound. On of the songs I've picked up recently is Lily Allen's "Who'd Have Known". It's been sampled on T-Pain & Wiz Khalifa's "5 O'Clock", but I listened to the orginal and it's such a sweet, honest story about the beginning of a relationship.

This look was a little trickier to put together because the song is much more literal than songs I've posted about in the past. With that in mind, I made the outfit a bit more "literal" as well, with literal meaning "totally wearable". This is what I imagine the girl in the song wearing her first night out with her crush. It's simple, accessible, cool, casual, but has some very pretty accessories to amp up the girly factor. 


Question time! What are you planning on wearing on Valentine's Day? Or what would you wear on your first big night with that special someone? 


Listen to the song here.

"Violent Games" - Poliça

Being a proud Minnesotan, I support Minnesotan musicians. We are very fortunate to have an incredible local music scene, as well as a truly exceptional radio station to showcase that music.The Current recently celebrated their 7th birthday at First Ave, and Poliça was the closing act. Their performance was highly anticipated, as the group had received a lot of positive buzz since releasing songs of their debut album "Give You The Ghost" (this album is incredible - it's available for electronic purchase now and the CD/vinyl will be released on Valentine's day). They did not disappoint. Their performance was truly captivating and their sound is amazing. I've been listening to their album on repeat since that show, and this song has really resonated with me. 


I generally like to listen to the lyrics of a song to feel a real connection to the meaning & emotion behind it, but this is a song of few words, and what really catches my attention is the overwhelming sound. The track opens with what sounds like an alarm and continues to build and lose control. It feels very futuristic, almost apocalyptic, and the minimal lyrics tell of desperation; the repeated idea of violent games and the raw sound make it feel animalistic.


Those were the ideas I wanted to invoke with this look, and what better designer to showcase than Alexander McQueen? His work typically has a dark beauty that is simply fascinating to me, and that mysteriousness was perfect for this song. I added some modern, rough around the edges, and a little over-the-top accessories to allude to the dystopian future in which I envision the wearer of this look living.


Unfortunately there's not a link to listen to this particular track, but here's the video for another track, "Lay Your Cards Out" (another really amazing song), and I very much encourage you to purchase their album!